 Welcome, welcome, welcome, one and all. Thank you, Michaela. Thanks to Jive and Ivan there for his tunes. I keep this going on a Monday evening. The DL debate is back. This is your host here, Brendan Daveney. It's the start of season four and the show is live, live. It's going live every week now, I'm glad to say. And what a weekend to go live, what a money to go live after a massive two points for Donegal yesterday at home to all Ireland champions, Kerry and Balabafay. We're going to discuss that game in-depth for my guests coming up soon. We're going to look across all the Division One games and including Derry in Division Two and all the real promise and start to the season for them. We also have a piece with A2U and ladies football boss Maxi Kern coming up and we'll have interviews and feedback from Balabafay yesterday including Paddy Kerr. And that sensational debut from Keelan McGulgan as good as I've ever seen. Now, first of all, I want to introduce my two guests. I need a drum roll for this man, really. If I had a set of drums, I should have warned Joe Dex he's producing this evening. They get the drum roll ready. He is the Glenswally Giant, one of our all Ireland winners from 2012, the best hands in the business, Big Deal Geller. Welcome up to the studio, Neil. Thanks, Brent. Good to see you, lad. And joining us on Zoom, another man that has a serious medal haul with Cross and Armagh, including, of course, a young fuffler of the year award. And if you see him, if you really see him on our streaming there and on the Facebook Live, he still looks like he could be in that category. Join us from Cross, McLean, via Chir, Nanogue. It is Aaron Kiernan. Brandon, great to catch up with you again. Good man, Aaron. Thanks so much for joining us. Listen, Neil, I want to shoot across to you first. You were in Balbuffet yesterday, and it was an emotional day, I thought. It's a long time since I've got so excited about a league game because of the lead-in to it, with the players, of course, retiring. The players weren't available. The players were injured. A lot of talk about the management. I mean, it seemed they had to jump so many hurdles. So, Kerry coming yesterday, you know, particularly going 163 points down, you were like, oh, this is going to be a tough, tough year, potentially. What we've seen after that was real, like, he gave it full guzzles, reeled off seven points in a row. I mean, Balbuffet really came to light. And even though we're not out of January, it seemed like a massive victory, Neil. As well as that, it was exciting, especially the way it ended up with the score at the end of it. It was a great score by Patrick, like, you know, but again, same as yourself, when it was like 163 points in the first half, like, I know we're playing a bit of a breeze and stuff, and it was bad conditions, but you weren't kind of thinking that, you know, you're hoping for the best, but you weren't thinking it was going to go great. But listen to a couple of points just before half-time and brought it back to three points at half-time, like it was. Second half, like it was just kind of over and back the whole time, like, you know, and, nah, like, all them young fellas stood up, like, as you say, Keeley McAlligan, like, what, a debut three points from going back, like, I know Keeley were missing a lot of, like, the Clifford and Shanochet and all, but, like, they still had the two Spalans, like, you know, Tony Brosnan, who's been shooting the lights out down there, Darren Moynihan's been there and thereabouts and stuff, so, like, the defence, like, for them to keep them, you know, and keep them to, what was it, 1-9 or whatever, that was a good performance, and then the score at the end up just, you know, it was great. Because Patrick wasn't on it too much, you know, by his own standards. It was one of those games where it was kind of bypassing him and the way it was played, he came out a few times, tried to get into the game, so it was one of them matches, he missed that three then, you remember, in the second half, which was unlike him, but it was second as a forward and a free-ticker. When you're cold, like, that can happen sometimes, you know, it was his first real shot at goal there and so long into the game, but then, come with the hurt, the cappy town steps up, brilliantly worked, ball, and you look at the modern game, you blank at the defence, that's what you've got to do, that we give go, and once you go down that left foot, you can almost see the headlines coming already. No, exactly, and I mean, he's well-capable of that, like, it probably, like, Tag Morley just went on sweeping a lot, even when they lost possession. Tag Morley just dropped on the front of Patrick and Jamie Brennan and that, but again, like, Patrick's, you know, he's the marquee player now, you know, wherever I go, but it's like, you know, the big players, like, you know, the big players perform, and I was just looking, watching the last play unfold, and I was just, like, saying to myself, you need to get it to Patrick, like, you know, because that's, you know, what they're there for and that's what they're good at, and thankfully, the way it worked in, he just had possession before, went over to the stand side, when it came back to him then, it just came alive when he got it and got the 1-2 and got that bit of space, like, thankfully it carried over and it was a great score, like, and I was just delighted for the players because even though it was January, and it's the league, like, you know what I mean, the way the championship is now, like, the championships in April, like, and it's not as if, you know, when the league finishes, you have another kind of a pre-season of five or six weeks to get ready for the championship. Now, it's all fairly condensed, like, and, you know, you need to get kind of blood new players out, but you need to get playing together as a team, like, first year in for the new management, playing together as a team, and things that got them, boys were buzzing, going back to training on Tuesday night, you know. Definitely. So, Arran, looking in from outside, I know it's two points, you know, you did the plated carry team, wee bit late coming back, you had their full back climbers and their Arran, and their six, two, three of the other guys that started came on sub and all Arran final, so they still had enough quality throughout the team, and don't they go, you know, unbelievably depleted. So what was your take, Arran, from outside in terms of what happened in Balboffay yesterday? Yeah, well, obviously, as a neutral, I was an interested spectator, and I get what you're saying in terms of who Kerry were missing, but to be fair, Donny Gull were missing equally as much, and that was all across the field from, like, you could arguably say you're most influential defenders, Bond, Gallagher, Mogan, McHugh, you're one of those boys, and then obviously Langan, Thompson, the O'Donnells, like, that's a huge amount of experience and quality that your sales are missing. And I have to say, as a neutral, they were sitting there like, I was impressed with how Donny Gull started. I was impressed with the composure, and well, obviously, the goal was, it was a mistake, and it could have stepped them back completely, you know, it did look like it was a game that could run away, but I have to say what I was really impressed with, and I know you've mentioned a few times with Caleb McHulgan, was the composure to get the ball from one side of the field to the other, and it kept seeming to happen, and he's got three really good scores, where you went up along the terrace side and switched wings, and it was twice as McHulgan who come sort of inside the 45, found himself at edge of the D, but kicked with real conviction, and if you're saying for people who are at the game that he's kicking into a win for a debutant to get up that far, but to come on a pace, the time has run perfectly, and to kick with the conviction that he did. Again, user heavily invested as Donny Gull men, so you could fear the worst maybe no one who was missing, but for me, sitting back watching it, I thought the conviction and confidence he had kicking it, but I also thought then that the roar from the Donny Gull support, I felt that they really got behind the team, and I think that they sort of knew what was sort of hanging over the team, coming into it, you know, in terms of the doubts about the team, the doubts about the management team, the doubts about the players that you were missing, so for me, all of that I think led to really digging in and saying out the half with only three pints in it, and I said, realistically, the goal was a mistake that, well, very rarely, you're gonna see that there happening in a game, and that's something that can easily be ironed out, so other than that there, I think the management team and the players themselves, what have we been in at halftime, you know, with their confidence sort of back up again, and really looking forward to ripping into them the second half, knowing that you had a bit of a breeze at your back, so for me, to stick in it whenever it looked like it could have easily went away from you was the most impressive thing, but it was how you worked the scores and the players, you took them, that's what really stood out to me, like you said, as a neutral, who was just sat back watching. The feet up, Aaron, it was a bluster enough, they were saying, I'm happy enough watching at this point. You mentioned the goal, of course, we did do something very similar against our man, the championship last year, which was a bit disappointing ironing. That one-six, I think, I'd love one-six, one-three, I think was direct mistakes, Neil, but after that, you know, when you're pushed to the very back of it, you know where defence was at sixes and sevens, we were being skinned at the back quite often, we looked like we were in trouble, we seemed to then solidify, and as I say, they scored seven points in a row. You know, we mentioned Macalgen, of course, I thought he was phenomenal. Dara Bouille, he was completely out of favour on their boners time, had a brilliant game as well. And of course, Conrad Donald had a couple of brilliant scores, particularly on the left foot, you know, it was not going to carry defence at that stage. They thought you were going nowhere, because you're on your left side, going ahead and never going. He just curled you over the bar beautifully. You know, there was some brilliant performances in there, patterns, kick outs as well, times they were within an inch perfect, you know. So, you know, looking at it in terms of, as Aaron was saying, there are a lot of people that buzz out and people that's away, that's still to come back. If Donnie Goll can get something from these players and can unearth a few players, it can only make the squad in a good place, going in as we go towards Championship. Oh, definitely, and I thought that, like, see Mark Cornyn back, you know, Macal, the ones that got the start, you know, you're making the big full foul, Routes, you know, you've got a couple of score stuff, but see any time the ball went on the end of the space, the second half, like, them boys are right up alongside them and flicking the ball away, like, in them six carry, four hours, they'll know they're probably not the six starters, like, where the boys to come in, and they're going to be pushing for spots, too, like, so, I mean, they were trying their hardest, like, but I thought once Cornyn and Macal, Keelan Warr too, and Tony Brosnan, like, I thought once they kind of got a grip of them in the second half, it was a good platform, but you're right, two patterns kick outs was just, like, the conditions, I don't know if you've seen TV, but, like, the conditions, they're a big breeze and then when they're in, but patterns kick outs was just the joy to watch them just pinging them out, like, and, you know, he's a talented gold keeper, you know. If we'd do our big hands out there now, then. Aren't you know, it was funny, after a match, Jack O'Connor flipping on about this point, then, now, the point was debatable and it was funny because from our side, we were at the opposite side, the ham carry had a definite wide in the second half, went in the near post wide, and he was ranting and raving about that at the end of the match, and it's funny what you give off about, you've got to be careful, because this was 100% wide, I don't know, did it show them, it just last white, last night, but there was a period in the second half, and I don't know if you could see it in TV, but carry completely lost her shape, and we were hitting them on the break, we actually should have scored a goal at that point, they remember we were breaking up the pitch, carry was all over the place, and then there was one big call, the whole carry defence just went back in, the whole team went back into the 45, and they realised that they had got caught under the counter attack, it's probably the end of Donegal, maybe should have got a bit of a cushion, as it stood then after that, carry had three very good chances, and even there was a point in it, they were about five minutes to go to equalise, they missed them all, and I think we did right a lot, a small bit, Aaron, were you aware of that there in the game, the fact that the way the game, particularly in the second half, we had flipped from carry's defensive strategy, and actually all over the place, to go back in the rigid? Yeah, that's what I thought they actually were doing quite well in the first half against you, was they were getting 13 men back inside their own half, and that's where, like some of your boys were taking the ball into contact and getting stripped of it, but for me, what impressed me, I'm out, we're doing that there in Saturday night, but I'm out, the two forwards that they had up the field were standing under 45, so it might give you an out in terms of being able to kick pass it, but then as those two boys get it, they have to stand and wait for everybody to come, where I thought in the first half what carry were doing really well was once they turned you over, the two inside forwards were stretching you, so they were staying right inside the 14-21 yards, and it was a turnover, say, in your 45 metre lane, and it was a kick in the space, I think Graham was solid in one hand, just ran up the middle of the field and a kick pass, top basically all your players who were trying to retreat and get back to help McColl and Curran in the full back lane, but I just suppose in terms of the wind then changing in the second half, and then boys just getting up to the speed of it, maybe communication getting a bit better, a bit of spatial awareness, realising that we're all following the ball up the field, we're getting turned over, and it's everybody chasing, because we've left the two on two, so I think without having been in the changing rooms with your group, I think that's something maybe that managers might have addressed, players might have realised themselves, and it meant then, as Neil said, that any ball that was going in, your full backs aren't afraid to attack it, because there's a bit of pressure on it, or they know all they have to do is get a hand in or break it, and you have retreating players coming, who's going to pick the ball up, so I think as a whole, definitely there was a big improvement from yourselves, and whether Kerry ran out of steam, or whether it was a group of boys who maybe aren't as used to playing with each other and nobody was taking the lead, in terms of who was going to control the shape of their team, but that's not really a Donegal issue, so let them worry about that there, I think from a Donegal perspective, that would have to be a huge plus, whether it was management, players, or them all coming together, that they realised what was going wrong in the first half, or how you were leaving yourself so open to be able to turn that and stay in the game, that Lucky would run away from you, and then, like I said, you could have ruled your luck away, but a bit towards the end of the game, but you have to remember, Darrell Wheeler was really unlucky to it, and therefore he should have, should have, could have had a goal in the first half, where he came in to parasite, and have a shot off his left foot, nearly went in off the back post, you know, so definitely there was chances and positives all across, defeated for your chance too. Yeah, I think so, just an overall picture, you know, seven games in nine weeks, you should early championship, it's going to come thick and fast, have you ever seen, you know, you've played under so many different managers, you've gone on the league, when you've, you've had most of your players, probably there, you have a good preparation, you know, you've had to find your feet, as Aaron was saying, like, like, have you ever seen a time like this in Donegal football? I mean, the amount of stuff, and let's be honest, those vultures circling already, I could hear it out there from different people, you know, everything was negative, no, I'm not saying everything was negative, but the negative voices were there, and I was thinking, you know, this is a difficult, and that's why I think for Paddy Carr, you know, you know, Paddy Bradley, the whole background team, you know, it's an unbelievable lift, I know it's only two points, but it certainly feels a lot more. I, well, probably a lot of the negativity probably was, maybe, you know, after Declan, I suppose stepped down or whatever, that it took a brave while for a defining manager, like, but see now, like, whenever Paddy's on there and stuff, like, it's just a matter of just, you know, getting behind it, like, there was a good crowd there yesterday, like, and the supporters fairly got behind the team and stuff, and was there, like, and I'm sure, like, you know, it's kind of, like, not that they've been nervous, like, but they'll be excited, like, you know, them three boys have great experience, like, in management and players and sales, like, and have been through all that, but still, like, first game at home, especially against Kerry, like, it's going to be a kind of a big one, like, I've seen the one with Jack O'Connor, like, and they kind of came running after the ref at the end of the game, like, and it just showed you what it meant to him. He was, in a sense, not to get a draw out of it, like, you know, so, no, I'm sure they were delighted. Again, like, it is still January as the league, but at the same time, it's two points that, possibly, you know, two months ago, like, you know, we're probably thinking, you know, we might not get them two points, so it's definitely good, and, like, that's a good, no, we're on their own, because, like, after them getting better the weekend, we can try and really get their own as up. What do you think of it? Oh, well, we've got two points on our head. I would like that. And just on the management team, they're obviously, there's one of your own men, and they had no work. What would he bring in your opinion to this setup, as a coach? Well, I'd go in a bit on Neil's point there, as well, before I speak with Ed, and for me, like, I'm sure you're outside, and you can hear all the stuff, but, right, it probably wasn't ideal. It took longer than they would have hoped to get somebody, you know, who doesn't, to make the rumors, but who's going to get it? Who wasn't going to get it? But I'm also of the opinion that, once they do get it, just like Neil said, you have to get on board to support them. Like, Paddy Carr is a very good manager of his own, right? But then, to pull the management team of Paddy Bradley, the up and coming, clearly, is your forward coach, Ed Narok, very experienced player, manager, coach, in terms of looking after the fence. So, right, it might not have been there in place as long as everyone wanted to be, but if they're given time and given a bit of space and allowed to develop their own sort of, their own sort of feel of that team, there's more than enough quality within them, but it did just feel like me, like, everybody was down and the whole thing, and at the end of the day, this isn't golf, like, this isn't individual sport, like, this is a team, this is a county that you have to give them an opportunity to be able to put their own stamp on things. And like I said, two days ago, never mind two months ago, you might have thought that that result was going to come, but it did. I'm sure there's plenty that can be improved on and there's plenty that they will feel that there's improvement on, but it's a brilliant start. In terms of Ed, and I know it was maybe there's a bit of criticism over the down panel last year and that, but I would be, and some of the murmurs coming out of it, training and not being good or not being coached well enough, but for me, like Aidan as a player, was an extremely smart player, great reader again, he'd be methodical in what he would do as far as I have a concern. He's managed loud, he's coached and killed air, he's coached and down, he's now with your shout, and, you know, he's heavily invested and has been in football since he's retired. So like, he would have so many qualities, good defensive qualities, or even in terms of how a team as a whole should be able to set up that, I think, yeah, like you said, just if there was a bit of positivity and a bit of time and space for him, that I think he'll definitely add to it. And like Paddy Bradley as a forward, like we all know the qualities that he had, and I think he'd be well able to bring that across to the modern game and how things have changed and that there because the game is changing, the game had come back a wee bit to what it was, you know, maybe 10, 15 years ago, and that's whenever Paddy was at his best, because I also remember I was lucky enough I played an international rules team in him, but the one thing he always wanted to do was take a defender's space once he got the ball in his possession, and similar to what you would have done yourself, Brendan, like, he was brilliant at it. So if the game evolves back to where you might get more opportunities to take on a man only for 10 yards in a one-on-one situation, but he would always take your space, he'd step across, he'd either make you fowl you or you'd have to let him go and he'd get the shot off. So again, as a young forward coming up in the counter, even those who are established, I think that they can feed and learn plenty off the legs of him as well also. Yeah, yeah, good man there. And this and the last coach we had from our man was of course the famous John Morrison. If he's as good as John, I'd be happy enough the legend that he was, God rest him. Neil, I just touched on time and management and time there. Now, I was on Tarone today and already, there's a couple of boys skinning, you know, this is a team won all Ireland two years ago. Obviously I was on off-year last year and they're saying, right, they're not going well. There's going to have to be a change and I'm a great boys. Are you going mad or what? You know, day one, I mean, how do you see this next week with Tarone? And I suppose it was mentioned earlier about, you know, people's attitudes towards, you know, any result. And like I was hearing that today and Tarone people are questing now, where are they going, what's happening? Like, I mean, I suppose not too many, I suppose whenever Logan and Doher thought that they won all Ireland the first year in charge kind of thing, or whatever, like, and they'd done that and had great success. And like, you know, with that time they won it, like two years ago, it was a great victory. I know a lot of the teams the year after, apart from probably doubling there this last while, the year after is kind of tend to be kind of injuries and different things and it's not as good. But you'd be expecting them, like, now that they've kind of got a fairly, I suppose it's kind of a settled team, I suppose it was a couple, I know a lot of boys walked away last year and stuff, but they'll still be like dangerous. Like when you look at Ulster, like, I mean, there's probably five or six teams that are running around. Derek could be a wee bit ahead of everybody else, but then there's five or six that's good one and Tarone's on there. Like, I mean, you could play Tarone five times and Tarone out five weekends, like, and you know, it'll be two, two, going on to the last, like, you know, between us and them. I think that the two boys are half-two, fairly good managers, like, so, I mean... Yeah, yeah. The battling spot and being hit too quick. Yeah. And just as Neil said there, you know, who's pushing on in Ulster? You know, you've obviously seen our man, Monaghan, the weekend. Like, it locks now from the outside as if... Listen again, I don't want to be judging any first day, but it could be tough, a tough season for Monaghan. And in terms of your own lads, of course, you was accounted for us and thrown last year as the Derry. So if anybody's on the up in Ulster, it's the Orchard men and the Derry men. What would you make of that? Well, I would have thought that, like, before yesterday, I would have put Tarone, I felt that they would have the biggest comeback this year more to prove. I would have them down as favourites for Ulster. And as it stands today, I'd probably say a Derry again, just given what happened thrown yesterday. I wouldn't hit the panic button as big with them. I do think they still have an awful lot of quality to give away at two goals in very quick succession yesterday, which is not something that you generate attribute to them. But in terms of ourselves, definitely after last year, the two wins against yourselves and Tarone, it put us up in a bit of a pedestal. I think the excitement that came with the Galway game raised things another bit, but I would be pragmatic enough to sit back and look to say we were quite fortunate to end up even getting a draw against Galway. To be honest with you, I was at the game and I thought we were comfortably beat. I thought the game was over. Obviously, just two high balls in and we got two goals, and it was just basically pandemonium from then on. But definitely heading in the right direction. I would see ourselves probably sitting in behind Derry at the moment as potential second favourites, but at the one time I would be most worried about ourselves. I think we would account for answer easily enough in the first round, but having to play a cavern in cavern is one that I know there's a full league campaign to come here. But as I speak to you now, that's one game that I think we will just get our absolute fill of it. I was over and it was only a mechanic up game. It was a Wednesday night and a blashing rain for Arma and Cavern a couple of weeks ago, but I have to say I was very impressed with how Cavern set up defensively and how their forward shape and how they tried to move the ball, their willingness to look for a pass. And they were missing Gareth McKernan, they were missing Paddy Lynch up front that day, James Smith in the middle of the field, so they had a lot of their better players still to come back, but they looked physically in good shape and they played a good stale of football that is the ground get harder and make it better. They're just going to be harder to handle. And so for me, that is going to be a huge test and I could see that even from months out for Arma heading over to Grafivar. Yes, indeed. And listen, just looking at the way the All-Ireland set up, you know, you're only guaranteed in Division 1 and the top of two, really, as it looks, because the way Connick does, there's going to be Slag or Luton, there's going to be the final, there's a spot gone, West Meave won, the Talton Cup, they're in. So you don't want to be dropping down in the division, but I think they're obviously how they started, conceding four points. I mean, that's some defensive display. They know Nose Glory Gellar better than you. Is this just the same playbook from your time in Jim's time? Do you see any difference in it? You know, the fitness, the attitude, I mean, you've seen the two Glen lads was back there at the weekend. And that is a real All-In thing that would have been there in Jim's time. Like, I thought them lads would have got a break. There they are, you know, in the National League again. It just seems the way Gellar is here, you know? Yeah, well, I suppose, like, exactly. I mean, remember, like, what's Jim Monroe's time when that went around? It was kind of a... You didn't want to miss a league. You didn't hardly want to miss a McKenna Cup match or a League match unless you were, like, one of the guaranteed starters. But it wasn't a guaranteed starter. You didn't want to be injured. You didn't want to be missing a game because... It took you a year now to be a guaranteed starter. Yeah, well, that's what I'm saying. I'm more glad, lad, now, you've got the way to work. But even, like, in McKenna Cup league games, like, you know, you didn't want to be missing out because next thing somebody else comes on there and plays well, and it's kind of hard to put them out. You know what I mean, then? So, I mean, I think Rourish created the same culture with Andere. It's, like, whoever wants to go with us, you know, for whatever many years there, has to go with it and showed last year, like, they were successful in Ulster and probably going on then to semi-final, like, you know, just the second half or something against Galway, but the way he created it, I was still surprised that he's into hardy and connery-glass played, but, you know, they probably hadn't much training done most dairy collectively, but at the same time, they're two of their better players, like, and I'm sure, I suppose, after what happened to him, they may be glad to get on playing a bit of football, you know. But, you know, he'll have them going low. And, as I say, the thing about it now is that when the league's funnest, there's no taper off or just, you know, kind of, take a week off and stuff, the championships, you know, starting wherever in April and stuff, so you're having a while bit of time to kind of get going. And I think the good thing about the league and even the championship being condensed is that you don't want to play a championship match in four weeks later, and, you know, your next game is just to be with, and stuff, like, you want to be playing every week or two, you know, and I don't bring your fitness on and stuff like that as games, you know, so... You're happy enough with the new format? I think so, like, it's... Yeah, I think it's going to take about a week, and I think, Arran, just flipping out the whole crowd, do you see in a minute? Glennon Cloakes, Dr. Cloakes' representative is our meeting in Crow Park, as we speak, I think. I know this has been talked about inside out. Arran, where do you see this ending up? I was of the opinion last week that I did think a replay was a certainty. And then we're chatting to your buddy, Wally, on his podcast, and the word at that stage, and then was confirmed for Killamacode, is that their stance was, if a replay is to be ordered, that they're happy to hand the cup back and give it to Arran, tell them that they're all early in champions. I feel sorry for both teams. I feel sorry for the position that they've been put in. It's the biggest day in the club calendar, and it's just not a nice position for either club or set of players to be in. I don't think there's going to be any winner, you know, if this drags on and gets messier. But I suppose initially I talked from listening to Malika Roark that Glenn were happy enough that, you know, they just had acceptance. I can also see where the players or committee or how they come to the conclusion of, you know, we have an opportunity here that if we do raise a complaint that there's a potential that we could get an all-arrow and final replay, that's not something that you're going to walk away from. So again, you can clearly understand what they want to do. If I was crooks, I would have the ball up and I'd say, let's get this game on and we'll teach you a lesson and show you who the real all-arrow in champions are. But clearly they have boys who have now left the country and they're not going to have a full-hand effect from them. So therefore a replay just isn't an option because they don't feel they'll be at full strength. So like I said, it's just going to be a messy situation. That's just going to be a sorry debacle. That really come down to... And you don't like to be too critical of them, but it was a referee and or administration there or somewhere between a referee and a fourth official. Communication wasn't what it should have been and for a game of that magnitude and had the 45 being re-faken, we wouldn't be in this situation. If Mahara had it took a 45 again, scored a goal. It was Kilmercud's fault for having an actor player in the field, took the 45 again and crooks come out with the ball at least Mahara got just as they had their chance and they didn't take it a second hand round. So to me, that's the unfortunate situation that has us where we are now. It seemed like there was an awful lot going on in the sideline at that stage and this has just slipped through and it's just created a holy mess, unfortunately. There's a holy mess, aren't you right? I just think that you can't say that, listen, they're amateurs and the amateur organisation, these things happen, but I think there had to be a look at it that evening. Crooks had to be warned here. There has to be something knocked out of the leaf by that bit of time to, I suppose, to make some kind of effort and it will remain to see what happened. Listen, for now, Arran Kernan, as ever, thanks much. We didn't even get a chance to talk about Francie Bellew's benefit night that you ran so well. We'll get a chat about that again, Arran. We're running out of time. You need a full hour for that one. A few behind the scenes stories, Arran, it was a great night. We'll get to talking again as ever. Arran, thanks for joining us. That's Arran Kernan, of course, all the way from Crosse-McLean, there via Zoom. Big Neil's going to hang on here. We'll get you a cup of tea, hey? And we'll get a couple of hot breks on here. Back after these. The DL debate with Sister Sarah's Laddercanny, serving food you'll love till 9pm daily in Sarah's Kitchen. And there's free admission entertainment every weekend. Do you currently have vacancies that need urgently filled? 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And there's free admission entertainment every weekend. Yes indeed, welcome back. Welcome back. Big Neil has stayed with us here. He didn't have tea because he only drinks the herbal stuff now and he does yoga and I think everybody in the Glen should know what he's at there, folks. That's how he's so lean. But listen, I'm glad Neil you've stayed home. We're going to chat now after these couple of clips. After the game yesterday, our own Oisin Kelly who's doing comedy in the game caught up with first of all Donegal coach, manager Paddy Carr and then after that man, the match, Keelan McGonagall. Paddy up and running with a victory. A good day for Donegal here. How about Balbuffet? Well, as I say, it's a special day to go out in those tight kind of games and particularly given the conditions and all out there. The truth is irrespective of that game had it went the other way by a point to carry I would still be exceptionally proud of the effort I know because we asked of that. The lads are kind of aware that people are unsure as to where Donegal football is at the moment now. In terms of talent and all of that you can put question any team but in terms of heart and endeavour and pride and passion that's intact there. And I think the lads show that there because they were out in their feet at the end and upset Paddy to do what he's done so often for Donegal and pulled it out of the fire. So it was great. Well the way they turned it round because you were six points down after 24 minutes of the first half to see you out the half in the manner that you did and continue that for the first 10 minutes and the second half was impressive Paddy. Yeah well you know I was a bit concerned because we actually had more chances than we capitalised on you know and we did a lot of the carry scores tended to come from sort of mistakes that we had made and you know we're trying to tweak I suppose for the want of a better word the kind of football that we play and you know I think that that was kind of Evan there today I never thought lads for making mistakes the biggest mistake you make is not to worry about making them and once the effort and the endeavour is right so look at the lads you know they can walk tall around the county this week and we kick on with that and that's you know and we're very conscious of giving people here in Donegal particularly you know we're taught to very much deal with the people in Creaselaw and we hope that that put a smile on their face. Yeah well you've brought a smile to people with supporters here today because in the final possibly we could see what it meant to them but one young fella in particular young Keelan McCalligan from Muff his first league start today three points man of the match a super contribution and he didn't fear taking on the All-Ireland champions. No and I mean just the angle where I was standing on two of the points I mean there were exceptional points and he ran himself into the ground and I mean you look at young Johnny McGrady there from Downs as well you know it gave everything a few other lads that have come in there as well and it's you know it's even young Luke Glyn like he's only a teenager coming in there and like we trust these lads and the show Great Spirit and I want to pay condolences to Luke's family his granddad was buried yesterday and I hope that they enjoy that hour. Yeah and very very proud moment for the family just looking ahead now to next week finally Taroan and Healy Park and Oma but you go to that game now with the spring and the step haven't beat the René Léguin All-Ireland champions? Well you look one of the things that's always important in sport and team sport is in competitions is a bit of a momentum so like I'd like to think that has propelled us on it'll certainly make the week a lot better you know and it's you know you see there's a very significant number of lads still come back into that squad there at the moment and a lot of lads and they'll be dying to get out of the treatment table and back out onto the field for Donnie Gall but a very proud performance and you know Kerry have an amazing pedigree they come up there they play their hearts out as well but look we did what we had to do in the end. Keelan McCalligan man of the match not a bad way to start your senior career with Donnie Gall first league starting a man of the match performance against the All-Ireland champions Yeah definitely it's great to get over line against Kerry they're a real great outfit even though they're missing a few today we were missing a few and we wanted to push on set out a message Well listen in your own performance today three points coming from going back in very very tough conditions I'm sure you're very very pleased with your own performance Yeah definitely I'm happy enough hopefully keep the jersey now for the next couple of weeks Yeah well listen you put yourself certainly in a good position to do that but on the game today at one stage there were six points down 24 minutes in the clock one six to three points it was and Kerry seemed to be in total control of the game but it was a fantastic turnaround by Donnie Gall Yeah definitely we knew we were the best team their goals and their points led to our mistakes and we knew coming in half time we were pushing on second half Yeah and he's did that and he's hit them four on the answer score wasn't that open setting out a message in that second half we're not here to mess around Yeah what did the management said he's at the break because he's finished the half well too so he used it Look they thought we were the better team throughout the first half and then who would push on the second half then What's it like to use young boys? Johnny Mcgrary of course another in here today and there's good handful of use young players that are now in the senior mix obviously you've settled in well Yeah definitely look we're pushing on through training I think we deserve our spot and there's few more It's good for you and the club the club will be happy with us so they won't Yeah definitely they're very supportive of me throughout career so I'm happy for the club and for myself But it's important for a club like the Patrick Dunn & Moff to have somebody in the senior ranks and develop particularly the way you have Yeah definitely we don't have many pretty seniors ever I don't think maybe one but now we're growing club we're trying to push on now in the next couple of years Okay well listen the more immediate next week which is a go in there now and good stead after that one today Yeah definitely we'll be confident going on the OMA that we can get a one anywhere we go in the country we know we can get a one if we put our minds there Fair play to you lad that was some debut in fairness fair play to him as he looked then and all the debut and says McGroddy kicking in with a point as well and really as you were saying at the back as well Kern and everybody that made their debuts yesterday just Patty Carr there you know it's demeanour now I've heard stories of McGillister and Strupps off people never you because you had always done your job I remember Boner absolutely crucifying me for that header scored against London but I can't see Patty Carr now letting her up with anybody in the dressing room maybe there's maybe that's where a rocker or Patty or Patrick comes on maybe somebody else that let loose on them or maybe a mistaken I suppose it's not no but like I've heard about him and spoke very well like and especially messing the umphilis there a lot like and like Luke Mclin coming on like and doesn't look phased at all like even hitting the penalty and making a cup game against Monaghan like only still a teenager like and Johnny McGroddy as well covered everybody's grass yesterday like was up and down the field and getting stuck in and now like he seems like and like he's not about the style of play like a bit changing maybe the style of playing stuff and hopefully Patty Bradley there were times even yesterday like and again you're kinda I suppose me as a mudfielder like you're kinda first option nearly always just to lock up and there are times there you'd be thinking just you know let her up and let her in like you know and it's too often you get into this kinda solo and not even locking up but I think a lot of times just you know drive her in because the forward is there like you know Patrick Jimmy Brennan sure like he's a great ball owner taking men on and all it takes is so hopefully we'll see a lot more of that And then just last question to you just looking at the Tarone right if that team plays now that we have you know and listen it was a great performance it's pretty an experience if we're going up against a pretty full strength Tarone team in Haley Park it's going to be a very different prospect from a home match against that Kerry site you know like next week is a very difficult prospect because Tarone are going to be under pressure they're going to be under home game Big time I am more so than like going to beat neighbours like in rivals and like it's going to be it's going to be a tough one hopefully our boys will just you know push on push on and I'm sure where the three boys on the management team there the experience they have going from one game to the other they'll know that listen this is going to be a tough one especially Haley Park they'll be mad for winning it for two points like so now it's not be soft you know not be soft hey listen maybe one of those away games we could target that's the roundup on that for now as I say earlier today I caught up with Sir Maximus himself Maxie Kern the ATU and ladies boss for a chat about the season so far yes Maxie it's Monday here in Highland Radio thanks so much for coming up to the studio and giving us your words yep no problem running anytime Maxie just before we get into the ladies in the season so far and what's ahead Maxie just the ATU boss as well Maxie I was just looking at some of the squads and I covered the team that they just lost to you used Jordanstown when they were playing UCD and I was just looking at the talent and the pools the talent that's out there and of course ATU you're trying to get up and in the mix of that Maxie but that was a talented side you can maybe close to I don't know if you call it an upset as such but you can maybe we do look we pride ourselves on being able to mix it with the big boys as they say we didn't do a great job of it against the DCU in the previous round you know it was a very tough night for us that came on the back of a really tough fortnight for the lads people forget that these boys are that they're boys they're kids some of them are still teenagers and the lead up to that DCU game we had some Ryan McFadden had played something like five games in nine days between the mechanic cup mechanic cup and club 121 and you know and then there was cancellations it was weather that was a period there was a real bad bug and flu going about we were just really under cooking out of that game we had a very positive league campaign we had taken DCU the extra time in the quarter final we've beaten St. Mary's we've beaten Queens we were beaten by Jordan soon in the third group match but we still qualified at that stage we had high hopes of being really competitive in this year's competition just as we were last year and I think the Jordan sound game we probably did ourselves a bit of justice and we came out down the road with our heads held high and you know you mentioned the quality of some of those bigger college you know the roster they have is always frightening Jordan sound we're able to bring on five under a county players that have played the mechanic cup against us at our own Keelah McCoggan who shut the lights out yesterday he was playing cornerback in that team they just had so many county players to come in and out of their team and one thing or another and like we don't have that than like we have guys playing division two and intermediate in junior football on our team but listen that's all very well that's for the stats and that's two books but you know on the day our boys just fought fought like their lives depended on it and you know when you have that give me 15 battlers over 15 footballers any day and you know and that's what got us so close and you know just you know the sheer attitude of the boys in the world of winning and for them to play with such vigor for their college team as a testament to those guys and you know I think maybe just invested so much in the first 40, 45 minutes we just kind of maybe ran out of steam a bit in the end and how important actually do you place the Seegerson in terms of not just Larry Kenny in the college so do you think it's a really important point in terms of you know we're looking at players that are hopefully going to go on and maybe play for Donegal and also a lot of Lamar and our Volvo County teams but is this a very vital part of what they're doing like I'm just trying to get grasp of how important Seegerson football is and if we can promote it how it lifts the college and that there's so many different aspects to this you know what I mean yeah there is and look I don't know maybe vital the right word look unfortunately it's probably a short enough window and you know we always say the lads are really cool comedists to play in because it's one of the very few where the the ratio of matches will outweigh that the ratio of matches to training will outweigh for every other team you three in town as much as you play so the boys really like it from that perspective but yeah look to get the chance to test themselves against the very best you know young Aaron Gillily from Rookles there Mark Dara Canavan against Jordan there's even there's Malia you know a long standing Inter county player would be proud of that and you know and that's an experience that the likes of Aaron will take long with him and it'll help him in his club career and look you've seen Jonny McGillily there yesterday he came on he kicked his point he's played now in DCU for a couple of years Keely McCullough and as we mentioned has started for Jordanstown so that's a massive step for those boys you know maybe fellas and clubs and you know they don't be exposed maybe that high a level you know from one year to the next you know whereas a lot of the boys in the other counties are playing at a higher level consistently so to give them boys the chance to be you know exposed to that level football is brilliant and you know we had the likes of Dylan Dorian who had a brilliant campaign for us in the league and you know it was called into the squad the training squad and it's providing the boys with a with a shop window for them to I suppose to express themselves and then it's it's also exposing them to the football at the absolute highest level you know because that's what they've met in the two matches look we've got a very tough draw in Jordanstown DCU so that's just the highest quality you can get yeah yeah definitely Maxie definitely good man Maxie just switch into one of your other teams I don't know many teams you're involved in this ladies football and looking at the division there and for years Maxie was an odd team in there that maybe maybe hadn't totally got their act together for one of a better word I'm looking at the eight sides in the top league now and they're all they're all teams that can handle themselves that can beat other teams you of course have rested a lot of our household names if you like because a lot of them have been around so long and you want to keep them fresh you've gone back to youth it's been a tough both games Maxie you know we're a way to carry making the making the trap they play carry Maxie so it's been it's going to be a tough tough league for us it's going to be a very tough league and you know yeah it's probably the toughest league that that we have experienced and my five or six years you know in the job here you know there's always been a couple of maybe of the lesser teams because there's only one teams get relegated it's kind of quite difficult to get relegated so we you know there's always been a couple that you set out at the start you know that's one we can definitely target you know that's not the case this year you've got you know you have the last years four All-Ireland semi-finalists you know and that's not to mention Dublin, Cork or Galway you know the three most renowned teams in the country and the most successful underage so you know that's a serious level of competition and but look you know we we knew what we were getting into at the start we knew that you know a lot of those more senior part of the league and look it was not something we shied away from done it all our staring down into a long period of transition and we knew that the younger girls were going to have to get a crack at it and look we weren't in any way afraid of that we've we've got belief in some of the players we have you know there's a few of them have a maybe a year two in the squad they may not have played very many matches and then we've a couple of you know real underage players if you after everything you did this team my fire you took them to kind of think right there's a change coming here but you but now you've you've a long-term plan this and nobody knows these games like you so have you have you a new crop now listen of course the old brigades going to be back but are you thinking that I'm going to stay about and mould a new East team is that the plan or is that too far no that's that's definitely a way down down the line so close last year you know they were kicking the ball away from beating me you know who were coming from the All-Ireland final last year so you know it's still something that's hanging there for us you know that that dream and ambition of going to one in All-Ireland and you know we are definitely rinsing every outside of these senior girls you know and you know we're really asking you know them to go above and beyond to play for Donagall and you know the dream will last a lot longer than than myself and a number of the senior girls so we want to try and leave it in as positive places as we can you know when our time is done and we feel by these girls getting a crack at division one now that they will be the better for that and you know you have girls playing there as I say you know they've you know I've said it a number of times you know me that ten players started on Saturday that have more All-Irelands and ten of our girls have matches better for that and you know some of those girls have been playing for the next five ten years and we'll remember occasions like that you know so you can if you get a couple of players under pressure you see can perform and you get the most senior players back you then have a better squad so in many ways even though this has been a tough start you can turn this around and listen you've Waterford coming up you're going to target Waterford in the championship yeah that's completely it you know you're all the time looking to develop one or two and you don't want wholesale changes from one season to the next you know if you can if you can any team can bring one or two new players in every year that's the ideal way of progressing and evolving the team and we feel you know from what we've seen so far there's definitely going to be you know one, two, three girls you know we've come out swinging in this campaign and I say everybody's it's a win-win for us so far it makes just last question about the score lines now you know me I'm an entertainment football type guy and the big attraction I thought the ladies gave for years when I used to go watch Maria and that was kind of I always say this there was more open play right and there was loads of scores I'm just looking at five to one seven here luck last week was ten minutes ago it was six, six look we happened just by coincidence happened to retain a lot of our defensive players in the last year so our defense is still very strong you know some of you would are proud of yourself be able to defend well a lot of the players that are missing happen to be offensive type players and we felt that by keeping the thing tight we didn't feel we were ever going to shoot the lights out brilliant stuff from Maxie Curran what a serving he's been to GA here in the county folks that's wrapping up the show I want to thank of course Maxie who you just heard there Aaron Kiernan Big Neil Gallagher we've got the amazing sensational Monday night sessions coming up with Jimmy and Paul next week as we look ahead to all the GA news will be happening of course the big game Throne and Donny Gall I guess we'll include Throne legend end of McGinley so that's it for the DEL debate episode one I'll speak to y'all next week